Three months ago today, our family pulled out of our driveway in Toronto, Canada, and drove to Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
Sounds simple, doesn’t it?
Yep. We just pulled out of our driveway & drove to Mexico. Just like that.
We moved to Mexico, where all of our worries would disappear and all of our dreams would come true.
Ummm….nope. If only.
Today was hard.
It was the first day of school for our girls here in Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
We chose this school because of it’s small class sizes, it’s creative education model, and it's incredible parent community.
A new country, a new school, and a new language. It’s a lot for all of us.
I felt hopeful that the first day would go well.
It did not go well.
Day 60 of 118.
We have been here in Puerto Escondido for two months.
TWO MONTHS!
That is half way through our four month family sabbatical.
Read MoreMexico, Day 39 of 118.
The heart softens.
The mind opens.
The soul thrives.
Our kids still drive us bonkers.
Read MoreThe Christmas sun is setting here in La Punta, Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
I am relishing in the calm after the long-awaited, and highly planned-for celebration, that is Christmas.
Last night for Christmas Eve, we ate dinner at the incredible restaurant below our apartment. Loyal to my Italian roots, I enjoyed a mouth-watering seafood spaghetti. It made me feel closer to home, to my family.
The small, cozy space was filled with many people that we have met over these past two weeks. It was comforting to feel the energy of our newfound community.
Our family of four said Buenas Noches, and headed to bed at 10pm.
That’s when the locals began their celebrations.
We are quickly learning that there are no noise rules in Mexico. Literally, NONE.
Read MoreIn ten days, our family of four is moving from Toronto, Canada to Puerto Escondido, Mexico.
When people learn of our plans to take a four month family sabbatical, the common response is "Wow! You’re so lucky!".
The truth is, yes, we are lucky. But it was not luck that got us here, it was perseverance.
This sojourn did not come easily. It was not presented to us on a silver platter as a pre-planned vacation package.
We designed it.
We created a vision and problem-solved a way into making it happen.
As a couple, we asked ourselves tough questions about our life, got super real with each other, and took action.
Stepping into the unknown forces you to face your fears and get comfortable with discomfort.
Read MoreIt was the end of April.
I was slowly emerging from the blues that had plagued me since becoming a mother five years earlier. I felt like a shell of the fun, vibrant woman I used to be.
On that grey, wet, dull, day (April is still basically Winter), I had five, consecutive, kid-free hours, between drop-off and pick-up.
This meant that I would be running around all day doing errands, and would be exhausted by the time I picked up our kids, ages three and five.
The to-do list raced through my mind: we just ran out of toilet paper, our eldest needed new indoor shoes for school, dinner needed to go in the crock pot before noon, and today was the last day that I could return the lightbulbs (I had bought the wrong ones...again….ugh).
“Is this IT?” I remember thinking. THIS is what I hustled my way through my twenties and early thirties for?
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